Maybe you have to be like me and be an American who had never heard of this story. The subtitles were fine and easy to read, some people you just can't please. I felt like the two reporters were my guides and walked me , a stranger, through the case I think they are all crazy and prove religion is the root of allevil.
12 Reviews
Well produced, but too long and unstructured
jacob_hedegaard5 April 2021
The show doesn't really form any hypothesis, adds new insights or fundamentally questions the conclusions of the courts. Maybe it shouldn't, but it does make it all the more relevant to make this 3-4 episodes and not just 6.
Mostly it is a fascinating look inside the inner workings of a Christian cult in Sweden,
Mostly it is a fascinating look inside the inner workings of a Christian cult in Sweden,
The truth about Crist in Knutsby.
fonziebulldog6 April 2021
As a Swede i am familiar with the horrible Knutby case of adultery, murder and deception who all happened in that small village. People who mysteriously drowned in their bathtubs, people who was shoot and died in all other weird ways when they in the same time had secret lovers in that same place all in the name of Christ. Yes, it was truly a BIG mess.
Another Nordic murder mystery that is well worth seeking out
paul-allaer13 April 2021
"Pray Obey Kill" (2020 release from Sweden; original title "Knutby: I blind tro" ("Knutby: In Blind Faith"); 5 episodes of each about 60 min.) is a documentary TV series about a murder mystery which took place in 2004 in Knutby, a small community about 60 mi. North of Stockholm. As Episode 1 "Where Truth Lies" opens, it is "Stockholm 2019", and a a former Pastor who was convicted for inciting murder and attempted murder in 2004 is wanting to go on record and finally "tell the truth" after all these years. We then go back to "Knutby, January 10, 2004", when a man calls 112 (Sweden's version of 911) to report that he's been shot. The cops come out and find him badly wounded. It isn't long before they also discover the body of a woman, shot to death, in the next door house... What is going on here? At this point we are 10 min. Into Episode 1.
Couple of comments: this documentary series is directed by Henrik Georgsson, a veteran of Swedish TV. Here he retells the story of a sensational murder case in rural Sweden, set in a small Pentecostal congregation. "In the beginning it looked like an ordinary murder, but there was so much more to it" comments a Swedish reporter. Of course the fact that this happened in rural Sweden, it could never be just "another murder" as they things simply don't happen there. But what really stoked the public's interest is the religious setting and context within which it all plays out. Episode 1 covers a LOT of ground, and it is clear that not much should be taken at first impression. In fact, what this reminds me of (so far) is the documentary series of last year called "The Vow", where layer after layer was exposed until you get down into the rabbit hole and you must suspect all belief and simply persevere. Another recent show that comes to mind is the Danish TV mini-series simply called "The Investigation". I can't wait to see the remaining episodes of "Pray Obey Kill".
Episodes 1 and 2 of "Pray Obey Kill" premiered on HBO this week and is now available on HBO On Demand, Amazon Instant Video, and other streaming services. If you have any interest in "true crime" documentaries, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: this documentary series is directed by Henrik Georgsson, a veteran of Swedish TV. Here he retells the story of a sensational murder case in rural Sweden, set in a small Pentecostal congregation. "In the beginning it looked like an ordinary murder, but there was so much more to it" comments a Swedish reporter. Of course the fact that this happened in rural Sweden, it could never be just "another murder" as they things simply don't happen there. But what really stoked the public's interest is the religious setting and context within which it all plays out. Episode 1 covers a LOT of ground, and it is clear that not much should be taken at first impression. In fact, what this reminds me of (so far) is the documentary series of last year called "The Vow", where layer after layer was exposed until you get down into the rabbit hole and you must suspect all belief and simply persevere. Another recent show that comes to mind is the Danish TV mini-series simply called "The Investigation". I can't wait to see the remaining episodes of "Pray Obey Kill".
Episodes 1 and 2 of "Pray Obey Kill" premiered on HBO this week and is now available on HBO On Demand, Amazon Instant Video, and other streaming services. If you have any interest in "true crime" documentaries, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.
Nothing's new in this documentary
tverket11 April 2021
I don't like the way they tell the story, like two investigators trying to be smart. This is like a story about the people who made the documentary more than a insightful documentary. Looks like they have a burning desire to be heroes. It gets better after the two first episodes. But I will rather recommend the documentary produced by SVTs 'Uppdrag Granskning'. Much more detailed and way better narrated.
Subtitles
lunascotia13 April 2021
First, I'm not one of those people who hates subtitles just because they think everything should be in English. But, c'mon HBO! This is from Sweden. You know, a place famous for abundant snowy landscapes. So you give us small white text against an often-white background. It's just too much of a strain to watch.
Complete and Utter Waste of Time
neginanvar5 May 2021
First, the subtitles are hard to read. I seldom have a problem with subtitles, but this time they would go by so fast and they were straining on the eyes.
Second, and most importantly, there was no closure and no point to the story. Far too much repetition and the viewer is left hanging. Extremely frustrating and pointless.
Second, and most importantly, there was no closure and no point to the story. Far too much repetition and the viewer is left hanging. Extremely frustrating and pointless.
Confusing and pointless.
TalulaGrey28 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I learned nothing. They have no solid evidence to proceed with a retrial. They do have the re-enactment that was originally 6 hours long, which the police edited it down to 23 minutes. That's pretty much it. There were interviews with many members of the old congregation and it turns out that they did stupid things because of "The Bride of Christ." The whole documentary was entirely too long. I kept thinking, surely in the next episode we're going to learn something new, but no, it never happened. This is why religion is poison. I do not recommend this documentary.
What is going on here
aloalo-5359122 April 2021
So much potential... such a shame it is so poorly narrated and so much is left out
mariaanayaamella5 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Why didn't they intervew (or at least try) Asa, Helge's lover's husband? Where is he? Where's Asa now? What happened to both of them? At the very end when Svensson is being interviewed, she says "people in Stocholm told me when you commit a crime you must wear shoe covers" WHAT? WHO? WHY? WHEN?
I'm not even sure how many kids Helge had. That's how badly narrated this tv series is.
I'm not even sure how many kids Helge had. That's how badly narrated this tv series is.
English Dubbed Version Is Bad
natashargoodwin31 May 2021
The story is very interesting, but the English dubbed version on HBO is unwatchable. Someone in editing decided to leave the original Swedish talking audio underneath and just have the English speech yelling over top. It's extremely hard to hear what's happening, and has the stressful effect of trying to listen to two people talking over each other for an hour straight.
Just remove the Swedish speaking audio completely, there's literally no reason for it to still be included.
Just remove the Swedish speaking audio completely, there's literally no reason for it to still be included.
Chaotic, exaggerated
everything_changes-423-35526310 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
One thing true crime documentary makers should learn: NEVER accuse someone of committing something if you don't have evidence.
It starts off pretty well, then it just becomes a complete chaos. Cold blooded murderers are not victims, no matter how these types of documentaries try to show them that way. You can't turn a monster into a nice person just because they are likeable for some reason. They still killed people.
It amazes me how a whole community can go full stupid and form a cult like this. It's just beyond my brain's capacity. Adults believing that a random person is the real bride of Jesus. I mean, really??? This was the scariest part for me in the series. I just can't imagine a whole community of adults go this insane. WHY?
All in all, it would've been a good documentary if it didn't start exaggerating chaotically at the end. We get it, no one (not even me) likes the so called bride, but when there is no evidence, then just leave it as it is.
If you can find a shorter documentary on this topic then forget this one.
It starts off pretty well, then it just becomes a complete chaos. Cold blooded murderers are not victims, no matter how these types of documentaries try to show them that way. You can't turn a monster into a nice person just because they are likeable for some reason. They still killed people.
It amazes me how a whole community can go full stupid and form a cult like this. It's just beyond my brain's capacity. Adults believing that a random person is the real bride of Jesus. I mean, really??? This was the scariest part for me in the series. I just can't imagine a whole community of adults go this insane. WHY?
All in all, it would've been a good documentary if it didn't start exaggerating chaotically at the end. We get it, no one (not even me) likes the so called bride, but when there is no evidence, then just leave it as it is.
If you can find a shorter documentary on this topic then forget this one.
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